NE2000
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer networking hardware |
| Founded | February 1987 |
| Founder | Novell |
| Products | Ethernet network cards (NE1000, NE2000) |
| Parent | Novell |
The NE1000 and NE2000 represent some of the earliest budget-friendly Ethernet network cards introduced by Novell in 1987. Their broad adoption played a crucial role in enhancing network accessibility within the computing industry. Both models are derived from a reference design provided by National Semiconductor, which incorporates the 8390 Ethernet controller chip.
History
During the late 1980s, Novell sought to evolve its flagship NetWare software into a PC-based server operating system that was independent of proprietary network hardware. To facilitate this shift, Novell aimed to commoditize networking components—particularly network interface cards—so that the server operating system and networking protocols would become the main competitive advantages.
At that time, standards such as IEEE 802 for Ethernet and Token Ring were gaining traction, with hardware from manufacturers like 3Com and IBM dominating the market. However, these vendors typically charged premium prices. In response, Novell developed its own cost-effective network cards.
To reduce expenses related to research, development, engineering, and manufacturing, Novell’s designs were based on National Semiconductor’s DP839EB reference board featuring the 8390 Ethernet chip. Unlike the original reference design which utilized direct memory access (DMA), Novell implemented Programmed I/O to simplify the architecture at the expense of some performance. Additionally, the design did not map the card’s onboard buffer RAM directly into host memory.
The first product, the NE1000 (an 8-bit ISA card), was released in February 1987 with a price tag of $495. The "NE" designation stood for "Novell Ethernet." This affordable option was intended to compete with higher-priced alternatives such as 3Com’s $595 Etherlink card within Novell’s product ecosystem.
NE2000
In 1988, Novell introduced the NE2000, which utilized a 16-bit ISA bus compatible with the PC AT architecture and supported thin Ethernet. The second ("B") revision added an Attachment Unit Interface (AUI) port for external transceiver connectivity. Subsequent models like the NE1000T and NE2000T integrated native support for 10BASE-T connections.
Novell’s introduction of the NE1000 and NE2000 represented two strategic initiatives. Firstly, Novell encouraged other manufacturers to produce royalty-free "NE1000-compatible" network cards by providing comprehensive production documentation and certification processes to ensure driver interoperability. This strategy aimed to lower hardware costs and accelerate PC network adoption.
Secondly, Novell streamlined distribution by enabling resellers to purchase cards directly from Eagle—a contract manufacturer operating under Anthem Technologies responsible for producing components for both NE1000 and NE2000 cards. While Novell collected royalties per unit sold, it relinquished direct involvement in manufacturing operations.
This competitive pricing strategy compelled rivals such as 3Com to reduce their entry-level network card prices, thereby fueling significant growth in networking throughout the 1990s. Furthermore, the NE1000 and NE2000 played a pivotal role in tipping the "LAN wars" towards favoring Ethernet over Token Ring technology by dramatically lowering the cost of PC networking.
Production of National Semiconductor’s 8390 chip ended in 2003.
Clones
A variety of manufacturers produced their own versions of NE1000/NE2000-compatible network cards under different brand names; however, compatibility varied across these clones. For instance, some chips like Winbond’s 83C901 do not respond properly to reset signals, which can cause problems with certain device drivers.
Supported operating systems
In addition to NetWare, these network cards offer extensive driver compatibility with DOS, Microsoft Windows, UNIX, FreeBSD, QNX, and Linux platforms. It is important to note that non-Plug and Play variants are not supported on Windows XP, and the NE2000 is entirely unsupported on Windows Vista. Meanwhile, Windows 2000 provides a fully operational driver for these devices.
Emulator support
- DOSBox, through community-developed patches
- Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM)
- Bochs
- PCem, starting from version 13
- 86Box
See also
- AMD Lance Am7990 – Network controller chip introduced by AMD in 1985
- 3Com 3c509 – 3Com's network adapter from 1994
- RTL8139 – Realtek's PCI network chip series produced between 1997 and 2005
External links
- DP8390D - NIC Network Interface Controller (Obsolete) (National Semiconductor) – original reference schematic
- Ne2000 (wiki.OSDev.org)
- Michal Necasek, Was the NE2000 Really That Bad?